Stocking appliance

ABSTRACT

A therapeutic appliance, for placing a stocking on the foot of a user, comprising a shaft having a stocking retaining yoke on its lower end. The yoke has at least one pair of complementary side tabs which together with a rear hook attached to the lower end of the shaft form a triangular fixture for retaining the stocking. The shaft of the appliance preferably is curved to incline the upward end of the shaft to a vertical position to enable the user to grasp the appliance at the normally extended position of his arm.

United States Patent Smith [151 3,692,217 [4 1 Sept. 19, 1972 STOCKING APPLIANCE [72] Inventor: Edward L Smith, 1316 Old Skokie Road, Highland Park, Ill. 60035 [22] Filed: Dec. 18, 1970 [211 App]. No.: 99,456

[52] US. Cl ..223/111 [5 1] int. Cl. ..A47j 51/06 [58] Field of Search ..223/1 11 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,070,271 12/1962 Kennedy ..223/1 1 1 3,227,335 1/1966 Minnema et al ..223/l11 Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-George H. Krizmanich Attorney-Hume, Clement, Hume & Lee

[57] ABSTRACT A therapeutic appliance, for placing a stocking on the foot of a user, comprising a shaft having a stocking retaining yoke on its lower end. The yoke has at least one pair of complementary side tabs which together with a rear hook attached to the lower end of the shaft form a triangular fixture for retaining the stocking. The shaft of the appliance preferably is curved to incline the upward end of the shaft to a vertical position to enable the user to grasp the appliance at the normally extended position of his arm.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures STOCKING APPLIANCE The invention relates to therapeutic appliances for aiding a person in placing a stocking on his foot. The therapeutic appliance can be used by an individual to avoid strain on his back while bending to apply his stockings and is particularly useful for an individual troubled by back pain. Also, an individual who is handicapped in some manner or recovering from an injury which prevents him from bending to a position where he can put on his stocking, can dress himself with the aid of the therapeutic appliance of the present invention. Thus, the individual is able to put on his stockings without the assistance of another person. Further, the ability to perform the task of dressing operates as a positive stimulus in the therapy of a person.

Various devices for aiding a person in placing a stocking on his foot are known in the art. However, these devices are cumbersome and utilize various complex gripping mechanisms for grasping a stocking. It is often difficult to attach a stocking to these gripping mechanisms. Typically, these gripping mechanisms require releasing structures which are operated to release the stocking after it is in place on the gripping mechanism. In other devices, the user must release the stocking from the gripping mechanism by grasping the stocking and pulling it free from the gripping mechanism.

In contrast, the therapeutic appliance of the present invention utilizes a gripping mechanism which releases the stocking upon simple twisting of the appliance after the stocking is in place on the leg of the user. Further, the gripping mechanism of the present therapeutic appliance permits a stocking to be easily attached to the appliance.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a curved shaft for the therapeutic appliance which inclines the upper end of the shaft toward a vertical position. This permits the user to grasp the appliance at the upper end in the normally extended location of his arm when seated to use the appliance for putting on his stocking.

The invention is illustrated in detail in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the therapeutic appliance of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the therapeutic appliance taken along line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail view of the construction of the lower end of the therapeutic appliance;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the therapeutic appliance having a stocking in place;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the therapeutic appliance taken along line 22 in FIG. 1 and having a stocking in place;

FIG. 6 is a view of the therapeutic appliance with an attached stocking as it is used to place a stocking on the foot of a user.

A therapeutic appliance of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is designated by the numeral 11. The therapeutic appliance 11 is formed from a shaft 12 which has a yoke 13 affixed to its lower end. A rear tab 15 is also affixed to the lower end of the shaft 12 and has a hook 16 which extends downward to form a support for receiving a stocking.

The shaft 12 is preferably angled at curve 27 to incline the upper end of the shaft toward a vertical position. This permits the user to grasp the appliance in a more vertical position at a location which corresponds to a normal extension of his arm when seated to put on his stocking.

A handle grip 14 may be provided on the upper end of the shaft 12. The handle grip is used for grasping the therapeutic appliance 11 while placing a stocking on the foot of a user. However, it is possible to use an integral part of the upper end of the shaft 12 for grasping the appliance instead of the handle grip 14.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the therapeutic appliance taken along line 22 of FIG. 1. The yoke 13 has a pair of complementary side tabs 17-1 and l7-2 formed on the extensions of the yoke in an opposing relationship. The tabs 17-1 and 17-2 are an integral part of the yoke 13 and extend outward from the body of the yoke to form a projection for receiving a stocking. A second similar set of complementary side tabs 18-1 and 18-2 are also shown. As later detailed, a stocking is placed on a pair of side tabs, for example, 17-1 and 17-2, and then attached to the hook 16 of the rear-tab 15. If a stocking having a smaller opening is utilized, the side tabs 18-1 and 18-2 may be used in place of the side tabs 17-1 and 17-2. If desired, further .side tabs may be provided in complementary pairs along the opposing extensions of the yoke 13.

The hook 16 and the pair of tabs 17-1 and 17-2 form a triangular fixture which is substantially coplanar with the yoke 13. The substantially coplanar relationship also exists for the triangular fixture formed by the pair of tabs 18-1 and 18-2. This relationship permits a stocking to be easily attached to the fixture by a user.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view, in partial portion, of the construction of the lower end of the therapeutic appliance. The rear tab 15 is affixed to the shaft 12 by a suitable fastener 19 such as 'a rivet. The yoke 13 is affixed to the opposite side of the shaft 12 by suitable fasteners 20 and 21. It is apparent that the yoke 13 and the rear tab 15 can be affixed to the shaft 12 in a number of different ways. Accordingly, the structure shown is only to be considered illustrative of means for affixing the yoke. 13 and the rear tab 15 to the shaft 12.

When used by a person, the therapeutic appliance 11 is first inverted and the grip 14 is held in a downward position as shown in FIG. 4. A stocking 25 is then placed on a pair of side tabs, in this case tabs 17-1 and 17-2, and on the hook 16 of the rear tab 15. A stretch stocking fabricated from a material such as nylon is preferred for use with the therapeutic appliance. However, the invention is not limited to use with any particular type of stocking and other types of stockings are suitable for use with the appliance.

As shown in more detail in FIG. 5, the opening of the stocking is attached to the triangular fixture formed by the side tabs 17-1 and 17-2 and the hook 16 of the rear tab 15. If the opening of the stocking is too small for it to be placed on the tabs 17-1 and 17-2 then the stocking can be placed on the side tabs 18-1 and 18-2. Thus, the use of a plurality of side tab pairs permits the therapeutic appliance to be used with stockings having a differing opening size.

After the stocking is attached, the therapeutic appliance is returned to an upright position and placed before the foot 26 of a user as shown in FIG. 6. Normally, the user is seated and grasps the therapeutic appliance by the handle grip 14 The user then inserts his foot into the triangular opening of the stocking and lifts the appliance to pull the stocking into place on his leg. When the stocking is in place, the user twists the appliance about its longitudinal axis and the stocking releases from the yoke 13 and the rear tab 15.

It is to be understood that various modifications can be made to the disclosed therapeutic appliance without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An appliance for putting on stockings comprising:

a shaft having an upper and a lower end;

a generally U-shaped yoke arranged on the lower end of said shaft, said yoke having a pair of legs connected together by a central bite portion;

each leg on said yoke having at least one tab for retaining a stocking, said tabs being positioned on a side of said yoke facing away from said shaft;

hook means arranged on the lower end of said shaft and facing outwardly from said tabs for retaining a stocking;

said hook means and said tab on one leg of said yoke and said tab on the other leg of said yoke cooperating to form a triangular fixture for fixedly receiving a stocking.

2. The appliance of claim 1 wherein said shaft is angled to incline said upper end of said shaft toward a vertical position when the appliance is aligned to put on a stocking.

3. The appliance of claim 1 wherein said tab on one leg of said yoke is arranged in opposing relationship with said tab on the other leg of said yoke.

4. Theappliance of claim 1 wherein said tab on one leg of said U-shaped yoke is paired in complementary relationship with said tab on the other leg, of said U- shaped yoke.

5. The appliance of claim 1 wherein said tab on each of said legs of the U-shaped yoke extends outwardly from said yoke.

6. The appliance of claim 1 wherein-said triangular fixture formed by-said hook means and said tab on one leg of said yoke and said tab on the other leg of said yoke is substantially coplanar with said yoke. 

1. An appliance for putting on stockings comprising: a shaft having an upper and a lower end; a generally U-shaped yoke arranged on the lower end of said shaft, said yoke having a pair of legs connected together by a central bite portion; each leg on said yoke having at least one tab for retaining a stocking, said tabs being positioned on a side of said yoke facing away from said shaft; hook means arranged on the lower end of said shaft and facing outwardly from said tabs for retaining a stocking; said hook means and said tab on one leg of said yoke and said tab on the other leg of said yoke cooperating to form a triangular fixture for fixedly receiving a stocking.
 2. The appliance of claim 1 wherein said shaft is angled to incline said upper end of said shaft toward a vertical position when the appliance is aligned to put on a stocking.
 3. The appliance of claim 1 wherein said tab on one leg of said yoke is arranged in opposing relationship with said tab on the other leg of said yoke.
 4. The appliance of claim 1 wherein said tab on one leg of said U-shaped yoke is paired in complementary relationship with said tab on the other leg of said U-shaped yoke.
 5. The appliance of claim 1 wherein said tab on each of said legs of the U-shaped yoke extends outwardly from said yoke.
 6. The appliance of claim 1 wherein said triangular fixture formed by said hook means and said tab on one leg of said yoke and said tab on the other leg of said yoke is substantially coplanar with said yoke. 